Slab forming and stacking mechanism



Jan. 12, 1932. KH FF 1,841,018

SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 12,1932. H,E|CKHQFF 1,841,018

SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1932. ElCKHOFF 1,841,018

SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM I Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 irm/e/vexs Jan. 12,1932. T. H. ElCKHOFF SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM 8 Shets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 12

Jan. 12, 1932. EICKHOFF 1,841,018

SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5' I/WEA/m/e 74am W 9. @224, a L

Jan. 12, 1932. EICKHOFF 1,841,018

SLAB FORMING AND STAGKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. '12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 i V 7 w V, l/

Q iwi imam/s Jan. 12,1932. 1-, H, ElcKHOFF v 1,841,018

' SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. /z

gwuentoz duovuuf Jan. 12, 1932.

T. H. EICKHOFF SLAB FORMING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 12, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Jan. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

.PHEODGBE E. 316E011, OI CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ABSIGNOB TO m PHILIP CARE! MANUFACTURING COMPANY SLAB FOBHING AND STACKING MECHANIBK original application filed. January 12,

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting, trimming and stacking slab materials, such as composition shingles and the like. The present application constitutes a 5 division of my applicationfor Letters Patent on a slab forming and bundling apparatus,

Serial No. 332,1e8 filed January .12, 1929.

The general obgect of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will effectively lo cut, perforem, and trim slab materials to required dimensions. One of the objects of my invention is to provide an epparetus which will feed slabs of material to a cutting and perforating mechlB anism adapted to size, perforate, and divide the slabs into at piurality of finished units.

Another object is to provide an apperatus which will stack a predetermined number of products with precision and without marring it or mutilatin the products.

Another ect is to provide an apparatus which will divide the trimmed slabs into a plurality of finished units or products, without causing loss of material or necessitating 3 the use of a complicated trimming and peritorating press. A

One of the features of m invention is that I provide an ap eratus w ich is continuous in operation on I is operated from a single B9 source of power, to efiect the trimming, perforating and dividin of slab material into finished units and thereafter stack the units in stacks of e predetermined unit content.

A. further object of this invention is the 5 provision of apparatus which will trim, erforate, score and thereafter split a slab into e plurality of units.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which will score and split a slab of material into alurelity of: units, wherein one unit ma di or in size or shape from other units spht from the same slab.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which will score and split slab material into a plurality of units and thereafter stack the units, each stack containin units split from the same relative position in the slabs.

Further objects of thiswinvention will become apparent from the following descrip- 59 tion of a preferred embodiment, whith is 1829, Serial No. 882,146. Divided and Q11! application fled mo]! 13, 1980. Serial- No. 435,501.

illustrated in the drawings, and the essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section and is indicated by the lines 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken through the slab feeding mechanism', and is indicated by the lines 3-3 on Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section through the forming mechanism and is indicated b the lines 4-e? on Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6 are orizontal sections on an enlar ed scale, being details of the nerforating mec anism, and are indicated by the lines 5-5, and 6-6 in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is as side elevation partially broken away, looking from the left of Fig. 2, and illustrates the driving, scoring and splitting mechanism; Fig; 8 is a horizontal, transverse section through the scoring mechanism and is indicated by the oiset line 88 in Fig. 2; Fig. 9 a side elevation of the mechanism which controls stacking; Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through the stacking mechanism, and. is indicated by the lines 10-48 in 1; Fig. 11

is a section taken in the some plane as Fig. 10

and illustrates the parts diderent positions; Fig. 12 is a vertical section and is indicated by the offset lines 12-12 in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a horizontal section and is indicated by the lines 1313 in Fig. 12; Fig. 14: is a perspective view of the counting mechanism ig. 15 is a vertical section end is indicateo by the lines 15-15 in Fig. '2 5 Fig. 16 is ahorizontal section and is indicated by the lines 16-16 in Figs. 7 and 12; Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive, are diagrammatic illustrations of the slab in different sta es of progress; Figs. 22 and 28 illustrate diiierent forms of product, for which my machine is used.

This invention contem lates the provision of a machine adaptable I01 the formation of shingles from composition sheet material, such as asbestos board, and the like. Shingles formed of such materials may have various shapes, and may be perforated in the course of manufacture, whereby the shingle units, when ultimately used, may be attached to a building construction b suitable securing means, which extends ugh the per- 1 shown, I provide a chain of coordinated mechanisms which may be utilized to effect the cutting of slabs of material into product units, or, if desired, shingle units of approximate dimension may be passed through the apparatus to be properly sized and perforated. The present apparatus is adaptable to the finishing or formingof shingles of various shapes and sizes. 7 I r In the drawingsIthe cutting, perforating and trimming mechanism is generally indicated at 10; a suitable bundling mechanism,

whichis described and claimedin my copending application, is generally indicated at 20; the mechanism which conveys the slabs to the trimmin and perforating mechanism is generally in icated at 15; the slab scoring mechanism is generally indicated at 18; the slab splitting mechanism is generally indicated at 19, and the stacking mechanism is generally indicated at 16.

The mechanism used to trim, perforate and cut the shingles, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, will now be described. This mechanism or press comprises upright frame members 21, having suitable cross members 23, which support a bed 22. Journalled in the frame members 21, above the bed, is a crank shaft 24, having crank arms 27. Operating- 1y connected to the crank arms 27, is a he ad 30, mounted for reciprocation above the bed 22 in the frame members 21.

The head 30 is guided by means of stationary plungers 31, rigidly secured to the base or bed 22 and which register with cylindrical openings 32 in the head 30, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The shaft 24 carries a pulley 25, which may be driven by a belt 26 from any suitable source of power, such as a motor (not shown A die block 40 is secured to the underside of the head 30 by suitable bolts 36. The die block'carries shear members and punch members 55. The shears or trimming knives 45 are adjustably mounted on the block 40 by bolts 46 which ass through slotted openings 47 in the s ear. Suitable adjusting screws 48, mounted in ears 49, projecting outwardly from the die block 40, maintain accurate vertical adjustment of the shear blades; If it is desired to facilitate replacement of the. cutting edges, each shear may comprise a holder 45a to which a knife or shear blade 45?) may be secured by bolts 450. r An ejector plate 50 is mounted below the die block 40 and within the confines of the shears 45. The ejector plate is normally forced downwardly by springs 52 contained in recesses in the die block 40. The downward movement of the ejector plate is limited by adjusting nuts 53 on bolts 51, rigidly se cured to the ejector plate and slidably mounted in the die block 40. On the upward stroke of the head, the springs 52 force the ejector plate downward and ejects any material which has remained gripped between the shear blades.

The punch members 55 may be mounted in I the cutting of slabs'of material into product trated in Figs. 2 and 5, the head 40 is provided with a T-shaped slot 56 in which a T-shaped block 57 is secured. Pressed in the block '57 are guides 58 which retain the punches .55. Each punch has a head 50,

which seats in the uppermost end of the guide 57 and is retained in contact therewith by a threaded plug 61, carried by the, block 57.

This method of positionin the punch members permits them to be rea 'ly changed from tering the die 40.

Fig. 6 illustrates a' modified form of punch mounting. In this instance, the guide block 58 is pressed directl in the die 40, while the headed portion 60 o the punch is carried by a plug 64 and is retained in position therein by a bar 63, one end of which is threaded to the plug'64. The bar 63 is retained in the die 40 y a threaded portion 63a. In this construction the punch 55 may be vertically adjusted, or any particular punch may be raised so as to prevent its contact with the slab or work W. The ejector plate 50 has suitable openings 65 to provide for the o eration of the punches, and should the wor adhere to the punch, the ejector will force it downward until it clears the punch.

The mechanism which feeds the rough slabs W to the forming and perforating mechanism, comprises a table 70, which is supported by the frame members 21 and extends to the rear thereof (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Mounted on this table is a magazine for the rough slabs. The magazine comprises upright corner members 71 having suitable cross bars 72 adapte'dto retain a stack of material. The members 71 are cut' away adacent their lowermost ends, as at 73, to permit the bottommost slab W to be pushed from the stack and retain the remaining slabs Within the magazine.

To propel the slab forwardly, (to the left in Fig. 3), the table is provided with a slideway 74 in which a carriage 75 is reciprocated, by means to be hereinafter described.

Mounted on this carriage, and sliding on the slab normally rests on the table 70 and as the plate is propelled forward, the slab is pushed from beneath the stack to a position under the die 40. The balance of the stack is then sup ported by the plate 77, and upon the return movement of the carriage (to the right in Fig. 3), the plate 77 is withdrawn from beneath the stack, permitting the latter to drop to normal position, and the plate 77 is then in position to carry the next slab forward.

While the feeding: mechanism' feeds the 80 one position to another in the slot without al- 'die 67, the press acts to trim and bottommost sheet, it is contemplated that the uppermost sheet could readily be fed b the same medium. It is further contemplated that the reciprocating movement, shown in the drawings, could be utilized to feed material from a roll as easily as to feed separate sheets from a stack.

The slab W isfed to the ress, while the platen or head 30. is in a raise sition. The slab is positioned, by the plate 7, on a lower die block 67, ri idly secured to the bed 22 of the ress. If esired, the block 67 may have har ened edges 67a (see Figure 4), which coact with the shears to trim the slab. v The block or die member 67 is also provided with openings or female die members 68 to coact with the punches 55. The bed 22 is provided with openings 69, through which the punching's pass from the press.

After a sheet W is fed to position on the rforate the sheet. It will be noted that t e upper surfaces of the frame members 23 are bevelled, as-at 23a in Figs. 1 and 2, to readily permit the passing from the ress of the -stri s which are trimmed from t e slabs.

.e splitting mechanism, which scores and breaks apart the formed slabs, is located immediately forward of the press to the left in Fig. 2). I prefer to score an split the formed slab much in the manner one would score and split a pane of glass, in other words, by scoring the slab and then subject-s ing the scored slab to a sharp blow. I: find this novel methodmost advantageous, in that it permits the material to be fed to the press in slabs suiiiciently large to permit a plurality of units to be cut from each slab.

When a single action press is used to simplify the mechanism, a strip of material ordinarily is sacrificed or the severed edges of the completed units are uneven. However, I first form the slab in the press and later split the slab into a plurality of shingle units, thereby preventing waste of material and providing a product which has uniform edges. The splitting mechanism 18 is supported by a frame comprising side members 80 "and 81 and suitable cross members 82. This frame supports a plurality of feeding rolls and cutting knives, as will be hereinafter described.

As a slab W isfed to the press, by reason of the reciprocation of. the plate 7 7 it forces a previously trimmed slab from the press into the bite of upper and lower feed rolls 85, which are secured to shafts 87, carried by theframe members 80 and 81. The rolls 85 progress the slab (to the left, Fig. 2) to scoring knives 88 '(Figs. 2 and 8 The scoring knives are, in the embodiment shown, rotary discs having knife edges 88a, and are rigidly serured to shafts 89 mounted on the frame members 80 and 81. These knives are ar ranged in pairs, one directly above the other, and score the slab on both the top and bottom sides. The knives progress the slab to edges of the slab. As illustrated in Figs.

1 and 8, I rigidly securea guide bar 300 to the frame member 80, at one side of the rolls, and in such a manner that the slabs will contact'with the bar while entering and passing throu h the rolls. At the other side of the rolls, provide a similar bar 301 having outwardly extending pins 302, which are slidingly mounted in the frame member 81. Suitable compression springs 303, mounted on the pins 302, urge the bar 301 towards the bar 300, thereby uiding the slab alon the bar 300. To faci itate the entrance 0 the formed slab between the uides, I provide each bar with an outward y curved portion 305.

I find it convenient to provide the feed rolls and scoring knives with a vertical adjustment, in order that different thicknesses of materials may be scored. Hence, each shaft, 87, 89- and 91, is 'ournalled in blocks 86, adjustably mounte in the frames and 81, and which are secured in an adiusted position by means of suitable adjusting screws 86a.

I will now describe the driving mechanism which drives the reciprocatin feed 15 and the splitting mechanism 18. inned to the crank shaft 24 of the press is a s rocket 100, which, by means of a chain 101, ives a ulley, 102, keyed to a crank shafi 103, w ich is journalled in the frame members 80 and 81. A connectin rod 105 is mounted on a crank arm 104 o the shaft 103 and is connected by a wrist pin 108 to a segmental gear 107. The segmental gear is mounted fer oscillation on a shaft 106, which is journalled in the frame members 80 and 81. The rotation of the shaft 24, therefore, causes the oscillation of the segmental gear 10?.

Mounted in a slideway 109, of the frame.

member 82, is a bar 110, which carries a rack 111 adapted to coact with the segmental gear 107. The bar 110 extends rearwardly (to the. right, Fig. 2) beneath the press 10 and is 33- cured to the feed carriage 75 by a threadedportion 112 of the bar and suitable clampingnuts 113.

The ratio of the gear to the gear 102 is one to one. Therefore, it will be seen that the slide bar will cause the carriage 75 to be reciprocated once fer each revolution of the pres 10. This movement is so timed that when the press is in the inactive portion of its movement, the carriage is progressed forward to feed a sheet, and is partially withdrawn before the press enters on the active portion of its stroke. It is, therefore, apparent that a iece of work would be fed to the press and ormed for each revolution of the crank shaft of the press.

Keyed to each of the shafts 87 are spur gears 117, meshing with each other and driving their respective feed rolls 85 at the same speed. The roller shafts 91 are likewise geared together by similar gears 116, while 119, meshing with a sprocket 120, mounted on the shaft 103.

.The gearing is such that the feed rolls are driven at a peripheral speed, which causes the rolls to progress the work faster than the feeding mechanism 15. This permits the movement of the scored slabs to be arrested in order that they may be split and accomplishes this without interruption of the press 10 In order that a maximum amount of driving contact may :be had between the chain 119 and the sprockets 118, I provide suitable idler sprockets 121 journalled on studs 122, mounted in the frame member 81.

To split the score-d slabs so that they may be separated and stacked for bundling or other purposes, I provide the following mech anism. Mounted on the frame 82 are bearings 125, which carry shafts 126 and 12611. Rigidly secured to the shafts are rollers 127 adapted to carry horizontally extending conveyor belts 128, which convey the slabs discharged by the feed rolls 90, to the splitting mechanism. R-igidly secured to the shaft 126 is a sprocket 12Gb which is driven from a sprocket 118a, rigid with the lower shaft 91,

by a suitable chain 118?). While the sheet is on the conveyor belts its progress is arrested and it is split and separated as hereinafter described.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 103 is a cam 130 (Figs. 1,7 and 8) which coacts with a roller 131, mounted on the lower arm \of a lever 132 pivoted to the frame member 82'at 133. The upper arm of the lever 132 is connected to a cam bar 135 by a link 136. The cam bar is slidably mounted in bearings 137, secured to the side frame m mber 82. A pair of spaced collars 143, rigidly secured to the bar 135 rook an arm 142, rigid with a shaft 138, mounted in bearings 139, rigidly secured to the frame member 82. Rigidly carried by the shaft 138, are stop fingers'140, which lie between the conveyor belts 128 and are normally in a plane below that of the scored slab.

Hence, when the arm 142 is rocked, the shaft 138 swings the stop fingers 140 upwardly into the path of the slab and arrests its progress.

in a bracket 146, secured tothe frame 82.

When the direction of operation of the bar 135 is to the left '(in Fig. 7) the right hand collar 143 coacts with the lever 142 and swings the arm 144 until the bevelled nose 144a of the arm passes the vertex of the.

plunger- The spring 146 then causes the plunger to cum the arm 144a upwardly swinging the stop fingers into the path of the sheet. Then as the bar 135 returns the left hand collar will cause the mechanism to be returned.

While the slab is in an arrested position, a bar 147 is brought upwardly and delivers a sharp blow to the underside of the sheet, directly beneath the scored portion, thereby causing the sheet to split along the score.-

The bar is pivotally carried by a rock arm 148, pinned to a shaft 149, mounted in bearings 150 on the frame member 82. Rigidly connected to the shaft 149 is an arm 153. which carries a roller 154 adapted to be acted upon by a cam 155, mounted on the bar 135.

I, It is to be noted that the cam is so arranged, that when the bar 135 is forced rear- Wardly (to the right of Fig. 7) by reason of the earn 130, a rocking movement will be imparted to the shaft 149, causing the bar 147 to be raised upwardly and deliver a sharp blow to the sheet. To prevent upward movement of the sheet while it is being split, I provide bars 158, secured to the frame member 82 and which overlie the edges of the sheet.

After the splitting operation has been'completed, the stop fingers 140 are withdrawn and the split slab units then continue to be carried by the conveyor128. Rigidly secured to the frame of the machine and to the rear of the bar 147 is a V-shaped dividing plate 158. The dividing plate is so positioned that the nose 158a of the plate coacts with the split shingle to separate the divided units as they are carried by the conveyor belts 128 to a suitable discharge member. I

The discharge member consists of a trough-shaped pan 160, which acts to stack the units on end and carry them to positions on a conveyor, adapted to carry them to a bundling mechanism, generally indicated at 20 in Figs. 1, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The

trough-shaped pan 160 is supported by a plunger 161 having a pin and slot connection 162-163 with the pan and by a link 165 one end of'which is pivotally connected to the pan at 165a and the other-end to a collar .170, secured to a cylinder 166, which carries the plunger 161. The cylinder 66 is mounted in a carriage 175, slidably mounted on the frame 82. The cylinder 166 is resiliently positioned in the carriage 175 by compression springs 177 mounted in the carriage and which coact with bolts 176 secured to the collar'170. A compression spring 167,- mounted in the cylinder 166 surrounds the plunger 161 and draws the plun er rearwardly, bringing the'lower portion 0% the pan 160 into contact with an arm 1'68, rockingly mounted on a shaft 169, carried by bearings 169a mounted onthe frame 82. I

As shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 13, the frame 175 is connected by means of a link 178 to a lever 179, rigidly carried by a rock shaft 181. A yoked arm 182, carried by the rock shaft 181, is rocked, as will hereinafter be described, and causes the movement of the frame 175. As the frame is drawn forward it forces the collar 170 and link 165 forward, thereby swinging the upper end of the trough-shaped member or pan 160 to an upright or vertical position, as illustrated in Fig. 11. The swinging movement of the arm 168 is arrested by the stud 170a contacting withthe frame 82. The stud 170a is carried by an arm 171a, rigidly secured to the shaft 169. After the swinging movement of the carriage 166 is arrested, the carriage coacts with a shoulder 161a on the plunger 161 and carries the plunger forward in unison with the movement of thelink 165, thereby carrying the pan 161 bodily forward to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 11. The products are discharged from the conveyor 128 to the pan 160 in such a manner that they rest endwise' on a lip 168a of the arm 168 and as thetr'ough 160 is progressed forward (tov the left of Figs. 10 and 11), the product is pushed from the lip 168a onto a conveyor 180, supported by a frame 202 and which is adapted to transport the shingles or units from the mechanism.

The yoked arm 182 carries a slide block 184, which is adjustably positioned in the yoke 182 by means of a stud 186. A bar 187 pivotally connected to the block 184, extends rearwardly therefrom, (to the right in Figs. 10 and 11) and connects the block 184 to a Scotch yoke 188, which is carried by a block 189 rotatably mounted on the shaft 103. The yoke 188 carries a roller 190, which rides in a cam groove 191a of a cam disc 191, rigidly secured to the shaft 103. The cam is of such a nature as to cause the bar 187 and the associated mechanism to rock the pan or trough 160, once for each cycle of operation of the trimming mechanism. 7

The counting mechanism controlling a single action clutch adapted to set the conveyor 180 in motion, when a predetermined number of units are stacked on the latter, will now be described. As the product is carried forward by'the pan 160, from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 11, to the position shown in dotted lines, it contacts with an arm 200 (Fig. 14) secured to a rod 201. The shaft 201 is rotatably journalled at its upper end the frame 82. At its lower end, the shaft is Y journalled in a swinging plate 206. Pinned to the plate is a plunger 207, mounted in a cylinder 208, which is pivotally mounted in a block 209, secured to the frame 82. A spring 210, one end of which is secured to the plate 206 and the other end to the block 209, retains the rod 201 in its rearmost position (to the left in Fig. 14).

The shaft 201 is normally prevented from rotation by a pawl 214, pinned to the plate 206 and which coacts with a cam portion 213 Ofthfl arm 200. As the shaft is rocked forward about the pivot 204, a link 215, pivwhich is pivoted to a stud 219, mounted on the frame 202, on which is pivoted a pawl 220, which advances a ratchet 221 mounted on the stud 219. The ratchet 221 carries a cam 222, which is adapted to coact with an arm 223, pivotally mounted on the frame 202 and which operates an electric switch 225. As the cam swings the arm 223, the switch 225 is thrown into an on position, thereby energizing a solenoid, to be hereinafter described. A spring 226 normally acts on' the lever 223 to hold the switch 225 in an off position.

After the shaft 201 has been acted upon to advance the ratchet one notch, a lip 227 of the pawl 214, is'engaged by a stationary stud 228, mounted on the frame 82, thereby swinging the pawl free of the arm 200, and permitting the latter to rotate until it has cleared the product. Springs 230 and 231 act to return the pawl 214 and arm 200, respectively, to their normal positions.

It will be noted that while the shaft 201 is in the active portion of its movement,

namely, while it is progressin the ratchet,

the arm 200 is in a substantial y parallel relationship to the production, and it is not until the shaft 201 has completed the active portion of its movement, that the arm is permitted to rock. This prevents marrin'g or mutilation of the sheet by the counting mechamsm.

The single action clutch, which controls the operation of the conveyor 18a, is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 7, 15and 16. Keyed to the shaft 103 is a sprocket 230, which carries Ian plunger against movement towards the clutch member 233. A spring 237, secured at one end to the frame and at the other end to the bell crank urges the bevelled nose 235 into a groove 239 m a rotor 238, which carries the plunger 234. I V

A solenoid 250, which is controlled by the switch 225, heretofore described, is connected by suitable linkag and operates to withdraw the bevelled nose 235 from the recess in the plunger 234, there- 'by making a driving connection between the sprocket 232 and the shaft 106. The plunger 242 of the solenoid 250' is connected means of a link 241 to one arm 240 of a bell crank 243, pivotally mounted to a frame bracket 239a at 244. Pivotally connected to another arm 246 of the bell crank 243 is a latch 245, which is retained in contact with a pin 246a, rigid with the bell crank 236 by a suitable spring 247.

When the solenoid 250 is energized by the counting mechanism, as heretofore described, it swings the bell crank 243 in a counterclockwise direction (see Fig. 7), thereby causing the latch 245 to withdraw the bevelled noseplunger 234. This causes the plun er 234 to coact with the clutch member 233, us imparting a rotary vmovement to the rotor 238 and likewise to the shaft 106.

When the solenoid 250 is energized by the switch 215 of the counting mechanism, it is almost instantly deenergized; hence, it will be seen that the bell crank 243 will return to normal position, causes the spring 237 to return the bell crank. 236 into position to cam the plunger 234 out of contact with the clutch member 233, when the latter has completed one revolution, and likewise returns the bell crank 243 and sole noid plunger 242 to their normal positions.

Rigidl secured to the shaft 106 is a sprocket 275, w ich b means of a chain 276, drives a sprocket 277, eyed to a shaft 278, which is mounted in suitable bearings 279 on the frame 202 supporting the conveyor 180. Suitable gearing 281 transmits the rotation of the shaft 278 to a cross shaft 290', which carries sprockets 291, adapted to coact with the conveyor chain 292 to rogress the latter.

As each production is discharged from the pan to the conveyor 180, it contacts with the counting mechanism, and when such time as a predetermined number of roductions pass the counting mechanism, t e solenoid 250 is energized, causingthe conveyor to transfer the iles of finished shingles or products and enables the pan 160 to place or stac other products upon the conveyor.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that -I have provided a mechanism which will efliciently form and pcerforate a rough slab. The mechanism de ribed first trims the rough slab to the form indicated by the e to the bell crank 236,

235 of the bell crank from thealmost instantly. This dot and dash lines W in Fig. 17, and perforates the slab at P, as indicated in Fig. 18. The formed slab is then scored at the top and bottom, as indicated at W2 in Fig. 19. After the slab has been scored it is split apart at the score into a plurality of finished units W3, as indicated in Fig. 20 and then upended and stacked as illustrated in Fig. 21.

The mechanism is of such a design that tlu products W3 (Fig. 20) may differ inform and the mechanism is such that as these product: are upended in stacks, the stack W4 will contain only units of a uniform shape, such a: W5, and the stack W6 willcontain units of 2 different form, as for instance,-W7.

I have,.therefore, provided a mechanisn which will form a slab and thereafter dividr the slab into a plurality of units wherein on unit may have a form which differs from th form of other units out from the Sam slab and wherein such units are stacke into aplurality. of stacks, each stack con taining only units havin the same form am wherein the stacks are ischa'rged from th machine when they reach apredeterminm unit content.

The mechanism described will act continu ously to form, perforate, and divide slabs 0 material into finished product units am thereafter stack the units without necessitai ing the handling of the units and in such manner as to eliminate waste andwherei: the trimmed edges of the finished produc will be comparatively uniform.

I claim: I

1. In a machine of the character described the combination of a slab material feedin means, a slab trimming means cooperatin therewith, means adjacent to and aligne with the trimming means for subsequentl effecting division of a slab into a pluralit of finished products, and wherein said feec ing means acts to progress the material fro: the trimming means to the dividing mean 2'. In a machine of the character describe the combination of a slab magazine, a sla feeding means cooperating therewith, a sla trimming means, means adjacent to the trin ming means for efl'ectin the division of slab into a plurality o finished product and said last named means bein so arrange that succeedingslabs enterin t e triminin means act to eject the pre ing slab fro] the trimmer to the dividing means.

3. In a machine of the character describe the combination of a slab feeding means, reciprocating slab trimming means coopei ating therewith, means adjacent to the trin k ming and feeding means for effecting div sion of a slab into a plurality of finishe products, and wherein said feeding means arrangedto cause the slab to be program from the trimming, means to the dividir means.

4. An apparatus of the character d ing means for trimming and perforating a slab of material, means for feeding slabs of material thereto, a rotar mechanism ad acent and in alignment with said reciprocating means for dividing the slabs into a plura i ty of product units.

' 5. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination, means for trimming a slab of material, means for feeding slabs of material thereto, a scoring mechanism'adjacent to the trimming means for effecting the dividing of the slab into a plurality of product units, and wherein said feeding means acts to progress the slab from the trimming means to the scoring means.

6. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a reciprocating means for trimming and perforating a slab of material, means for feeding slabs of material thereto, and mechanism adjacent to said reciprocating means for dividing the slab into a plurality of product units, by a scoring and slab breaking operation, and wherein said feeding mechanism acts to cause the slab to be fed from the trimming means to the dividing means.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of sheet feeding means with shearing mechanism adapted to trim the sheets to a predetermined size, and subsequently acting means adapted to split each sheet, and wherein said feeding means is adapted to cause each succeeding slab fed to the shearin means to push the to the sheet splitting means.

ail

9. In a machine of the character described, a slab magazine, a slab cooperating therewith, slab feeding -mea'ns, slab perforating means, and means adjacent to the perforating means adapted to score the perforated slab, and means adapted to impart a sharp bloW to the scored slab, whereby slab is divided into a plurality of finished products.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of slab feeding means of a reciprocating head, means adjustably carried by the head to trim the slab, a pair of rotating knives adjacent to the trimming means and adapted to score the slab on the top and bottom faces thereof, and means adapted to divide the scored slab into a plurality of product units.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a slab progressing means, of rotary knives ada ted to score the slab on two opposing sur aces, means adapted to interrupt the progress of the slab, and means to split the scored slab while the progress of the slab is interrupted.

12. In a machine of the class described the combination with a slab progressing means,

of a slab guide, a slab scoring means asso ciated with such guide adapted to score the slab on two opposing surfaces thereof, slab breaking means adapted to divide the slab along the score, and means adapted thereafter to separate the divided slab.

13. In a machine of the character described, a slab magazine, a slab cooperating therewith, slab feeding means, slab perforating means, and means adjacent to and in alignment with the perforating means adapted to score the perforated slab said feeding means acting to cause the slabs to be fed from the trimming means to the scoring means, a slab guide associated with the scoring means, feed rolls adapted to progress the slab through the perforating means, and a cam controlled arm adapted to im art a sharp blow to the scored slab, where y the slab is parted into a plurality of finished products.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a slab rogressing means, of rotary knives ada te to score the slab on two opposing sur aces, means adapted to interrupt the progress of the slab, and means adapted to impart a sharp blow to the scored slab and thereby split the scored slab into a plurality of units, such means acting when the movement of the slab is interrupted, and means acting thereafter to substantially separate the units.

15. In a machine of the. class described, the combination with a slab progressing means, of a rotary slab scoring means adapted to score the slab on top and bottom surfaces, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and means acting to cause such arm to impart a sharp blow substantially along the entire score and thereby divide the slab into a plurality of finished units.

, 16. In a machine of the class described, a slab feeding table, a slab magazine mounted on the table and adapted to retain a plurality of slabs'in stacked formation, slab forming mechanism comprising a stationary bed and a r-eciprocatlng forming head, a carrla e mounted on the feed table adapted to feed t e nism into the dividing means.

17. In a machine of the class described, slab feeding means, slab forming means ineluding a trimming shear, a air of rotary scoring knives adjacent to an in alignment with the forming mechanism, means including said sheet feeding means adapted to progress the formed slab through the bite of the scoring knives, dischar e mechanism adapted to discharge the pro ucts from the machine, continuously acting means associated with the scoring acting to progress the formed slab to the discharge means, cam actuated means adapted to interru t the progress of the slab, a bar associates with the slab progressing means and adapted to impart a sharp blow to the scored slab, and means to prevent excessive movement of the slab due to such blow.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

THEODORE H. EICKHOFF, 

